Council staff have been offered a pay increase of at least £1,290 from 1 April 2024, equating to 5.77 per cent for the lowest paid.
Cllr Tim Roca, Chair of the National Employers for local government services, said: “For the lowest paid (currently earning £22,366 a year), the offer means their pay will have increased by £5,323 (almost 30 per cent) over the three years since April 2021. For those on all pay points above the top of the pay spine, an offer of 2.50 per cent has been made.
“The National Employers are acutely aware of the additional pressure this year’s offer will place on already hard-pressed council finances, as it would need to be paid for from existing budgets. However, they believe their offer is fair to employees, given the wider economic backdrop.”
The National Employers negotiate pay on behalf of 350 local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that employ around 1.5 million staff.
The increase to the national pay bill resulting from this offer would be £731.70 million (4.03 per cent).
Separate national pay arrangements apply to teachers, firefighters, chief officers, chief executives and craftworkers.